The Alaska Search and Rescue Association has awarded the Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team (AKDSRRT) the Mel Nading Award for their role in the recovery of two victims and a submerged aircraft from Crescent Lake following a fatal crash in June 2024.
On June 18, 2024, a Piper PA-18 Super Cub crashed into the lake during training maneuvers, killing Col. Mark “Tyson” Sletten, a veteran Air Force pilot, and Paul Kondrat, a floatplane instructor. Witnesses reported the plane performing touch-and-go landings before pitching down and rotating counterclockwise into the water.
The two men were conducting a training flight from Trail Lake in Moose Pass.
Portions of floating debris were found soon after the crash, prompting a large-scale search.
On June 19, teams located the submerged aircraft nearly 196 feet underwater using sonar and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with video capability.
The following day, AKDSRRT divers conducted a deep-water recovery of the wreckage and the occupants.
Due to the depth and conditions, the operation required specialized equipment and training.
The Mel Nading Award, named in honor of a former Alaska State Trooper and aviation safety advocate, recognizes outstanding perseverance and performance in search and rescue missions, either on an individual or team level, in difficult, dangerous, or complex situations while going above and beyond the call of duty with routine SAR missions.
